Metcalf steps down from coaching at University of Washington

It really pisses me off when idiots who have never coached, nor could they ever coach rip on a coach. A whole bunch of people probably lost their jobs with Greg's resignation. They have families and lives, and I feel for them. Greg has strengths and weaknesses just like every coach, lawyer, doctor, teacher, etc. Finding a good fit for those strengths and weaknesses would be an important step for him. While I compete against Washington I do not know the ins and outs of the position. Maybe its not as great as people say. I do know since I have met them that several of the athletic administrators who oversee cc/track are not very good, and don't seem to care much. If that is the case, then the job isn't what it could be. I think you will have some top 20 coaches looking at this job, but from what I know right now, there are no frontrunners. I wish all the coaches on the Washington staff good luck in finding jobs, and hope their wives and kids do well.

In recent years Metcalf has been wildly inconsistent. Great recruiting, then the kids never develop. Many of the guys turned into partiers instead. Losing big against rival WSU this year after crushing them the last two. Other than women’s XC several years ago, the team has never been a force on the national scene. AD Jen Cohen expects competitive teams in her program, in the conference and nationally, and Metcalf had the program plateaued at less than those. Yeah they’ll never be Oregon, but there’s no reason UW should have a worse track program than WSU or worse XC program than U of Portland.

Tyson wrote:

In recent years Metcalf has been wildly inconsistent. Great recruiting, then the kids never develop. Many of the guys turned into partiers instead. Losing big against rival WSU this year after crushing them the last two. Other than women’s XC several years ago, the team has never been a force on the national scene. AD Jen Cohen expects competitive teams in her program, in the conference and nationally, and Metcalf had the program plateaued at less than those. Yeah they’ll never be Oregon, but there’s no reason UW should have a worse track program than WSU or worse XC program than U of Portland.

always been surprised that UW ever has a good program. Where is there better places to run, Seattle or Pullman? WSU would offer much better running in my opinion. Would like to hear some specifics about why he was a bad coach. Ive been around alot of great coaches and none of them came within a lightyear of a national title. So he must be doing something right.

pps killing talent? look no further than vin lananna, bill dellinger and john mcdonnell. how many guys who were studs went into those programs never to be heard from again.

Oh man he Shaned it! Those Washington coaches sure know how to do it

Anyone remember Katie Flood? Absolute stud runner 2011-2012. Ran a 4:28 mile as a true sophomore and won the NCAA 1500m against a stacked field. All accounts pointed to her being the next Jenny Simpson. Haven't heard a thing about her since.

Also, what happened to other stars like Katie Knight? Baylee Mires and Eleanor Fulton have been so far able to string together postcollegiate results, but haven't made any big jumps since college. Katie Mackey seems to be the only alum who was able to pursue any kind of successful pro career.

This is why Metcalf’s teams were so inconsistent... he’d get only one or two good seasons out of every name mentioned above, before they burned out. Tellingly, Katie Flood, Liberty Miller, and Charlotte Prouse all left the program in the last couple of years with eligibility remaining.

I wonder when the truth will come out? Steps down 5 days before regionals.......we all know the truth is coming. Hint: his coaching ability didn't put a nail in this coffin......

As well lets not forget the recent open letter that Prouse posted after having transferred from UW...

Tyson wrote:

This is why Metcalf’s teams were so inconsistent... he’d get only one or two good seasons out of every name mentioned above, before they burned out. Tellingly, Katie Flood, Liberty Miller, and Charlotte Prouse all left the program in the last couple of years with eligibility remaining.

Goes all the way back...Alsion Tubbs, Courtney Inman, Kendra Schaaf....

Haven't looked at LetsRun message boards in years but as a UW fan was curious to see the reaction. Can't say I'm surprised to see that nearly every post is comically misinformed, objectively inaccurate, and downright idiotic. That's the LetsRun I remember!!

same old same old wrote:

Haven't looked at LetsRun message boards in years but as a UW fan was curious to see the reaction. Can't say I'm surprised to see that nearly every post is comically misinformed, objectively inaccurate, and downright idiotic. That's the LetsRun I remember!!

Hi Greg

Why would you happen to be checking now? Worried?

same old same old wrote:

Haven't looked at LetsRun message boards in years but as a UW fan was curious to see the reaction. Can't say I'm surprised to see that nearly every post is comically misinformed, objectively inaccurate, and downright idiotic. That's the LetsRun I remember!!

Then please inform us and correct the inaccuracies. Other posters name names and all you do is hurl insults.

Hayduke wrote:

WSU would offer much better running in my opinion.

I disagree. Harsher winters/summers and fewer running routes in Pullman. Seattle has good running weather year round with some nice routes from campus. WSU did upgrade their indoor facility recently, so they do have that going for them. But the UW facility is still better, in my opinion.

I’ll give some details. Metcalf sexually harasses his female athletes, making them extremely uncomfortable. He calls them fat and at one time required non-private weigh-ins in the weight room. He treats his athletes like race horses, running them until they are too injured to compete and then threatening with removal of scholarship if they can’t heal in time. He messes with them psychologically - creating an extremely unhealthy dependence. It’s upsetting how many careers/lives he has ruined and a shame that it was allowed to go on so long.

ABC12310 wrote:

I’ll give some details. Metcalf sexually harasses his female athletes, making them extremely uncomfortable. He calls them fat and at one time required non-private weigh-ins in the weight room. He treats his athletes like race horses, running them until they are too injured to compete and then threatening with removal of scholarship if they can’t heal in time. He messes with them psychologically - creating an extremely unhealthy dependence. It’s upsetting how many careers/lives he has ruined and a shame that it was allowed to go on so long.

So what your saying is... He is a distance coach? That fits the description of everyone I have none at a power5 and upper midmajor level.

Iswhatitis wrote:

ABC12310 wrote:

I’ll give some details. Metcalf sexually harasses his female athletes, making them extremely uncomfortable. He calls them fat and at one time required non-private weigh-ins in the weight room. He treats his athletes like race horses, running them until they are too injured to compete and then threatening with removal of scholarship if they can’t heal in time. He messes with them psychologically - creating an extremely unhealthy dependence. It’s upsetting how many careers/lives he has ruined and a shame that it was allowed to go on so long.

So what your saying is... He is a distance coach? That fits the description of everyone I have none at a power5 and upper midmajor level.

Definitely a product of the NCAA D1 system. Many many others out there, but most are not in running-centric towns like Seattle where there are many eyes on the program.

jewbacca wrote:

Hayduke wrote:

WSU would offer much better running in my opinion.

I disagree. Harsher winters/summers and fewer running routes in Pullman. Seattle has good running weather year round with some nice routes from campus. WSU did upgrade their indoor facility recently, so they do have that going for them. But the UW facility is still better, in my opinion.

I agree. UW is a much better running area than WSU and has better facilities.